The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-10-29
LAST DAY OF THE FAIR
CLOSE or THE TWENTT-SEVEyTR
ANNUAL EXHIBIT.

The Rain Fails Nearly All Day, Keeping
Hundreds of People Awsy-A Good At
tendance, However. Despite the Weather.
The Races to be Finished To-Day.
The regular programme of the twenty
seventh annual fair OF the Virginia State
Agricultural Society s over, and there is
wide.felt regret that so excellent AN
exhibition. which was the subject Of so
many bright anticipations, should have
proved a failure and financial loss. II
only failed, however, in lack Of attend
ance, for what a success IL was AS an ex-
hibiiion was acknowledged bv all yisi.
tors.
Yesterday morning was probably the
worst OF all the bad das Of the entire
week, for a heavier rain was falling than
usual, but in the evening the rain stop
ped, and as the temperature was milder
il was really the most enjoyable time
during the Fair.
The euployes of the society were at
work all day making ash-walks and
crossings, and added much 10 the com
fort Of visitors. Another wise plan was
to allow vehicles to come inside to the
middle Of the grounds free OF charge
80 that persons going ont in them
would not have 10 walk across the muddy
field near the Broad street entrance
In spite OF all obstacles several thousand
people were present. and until late in the
evening there was q considerable crowd
on the grounds.
THE DRILLING.
Yesterday morning was the time hxed
for the prize drill, but Only the Alexan-
dria Light Infantry, Captain Mushback,
appeared. This company was drilled in
the presence OF the United States Army
officers. who were to have been the
Judges, acquitting itself very handsomely,
and II was awarded the prize of $3.50, as
no condition had been published stating
how many companies should contest.
The proposed drill between the Virginia
Military Institute and Blacksburg cadets
could not be arranged, but as the latter
appeared on ;he ground ready, they were
awarded a gold medal.
THE BICYCLE RACES.
At ll.30 the bicycle races took place.
l First trial, mile race for championship OF
the Old Dominion Wheel Club. The
entries were 7. II. Hill, w g. Long.
mounted on a light roadster, Columbia,
aud Frank Il. Steel riding Star. The
race was won by Long Steel second.
Time $40.
Second trial-half. dash Entries,
Alexander X. Schaap and W. c. Long
Won by Long in 2:37.
Third trial-One mile novice. Entries,
Frank r. Steel, X. W. AppersOn and C..
l.. Bowman. Won by Steel Bowman
second. Time, 5:i0.
The next trial was slow race-one
hundred yards Entries, Schaap and
Long. Won by Long.
The slow time made in the races was
owing TO the heavy track.
THE RACING.
At I o'clock the racing commenced
on the worst track ever seen here. Not
only was the mud very deep, but at the
crossings regular gullies had been worn,
and in several places there were danger
Gus concealed holes Even while taking
their exercising gallops In the morning
two horses fell, one Of them. ST. Luke, on
his rider, but fortunately no harm was
done.
THE FIRST RACE
was trotting for three-year olds. mile
heats. three in five, which had been post
poned from the day before. The entries
were Harold Allen Fannie Wickham,
Huguenot, Kitty Wilks, and Kezletown.
After a dozen attempts 10 start and many
breaks by all during the heat, Fannie
Wickham won in 300, HuguenOt second,
Kezletown third.
In the second heat there was the same
amount Of useless scoring, which wearied
alike the horses and people. There was
yery pretty contest between Fannie
Wickham and Kitty Wilks, but the
former won with Kezletown third.
Time, 3O9i
The third heat was also an interesting
one. and Kitty Wilks mixed things up by
coming out ahead, Fannie Wickham
second, Kezletown third. Time, 3O6i.
The fourth heat was trOtted while IL
was rapidly growing dark. The horses
got a perfect start, passing under the wire
wheel to wheel Kitty and Fannie left
the other two and fought their battle
hotly around to the half, but here Kitty
came away and was never again reached,
winning In 30j, Fannie second, Harold
Allen third. Ii was too dark for this race
to be finished, and it was postponed until
to-day. when the trotting commences at
II o'clock am
SECOND RACE.
Next came one Of the eyer-popular
running races, mile heats, two in three,
welter weights, for gentleman riders.
The starters were Essex, Nilus, Seatick,
Huron, Triple Cross, and ST. John. All
got off well together, st. John taking the
lead at the first turn and holding it to
the end. On entering the homestretch
Triple Cross, under free use Of the whip
made gallant effort and closed the
gap but could not reach 81 John, VINO
won by a length and a half Seatick
third, and Huron fourth. Essex and ~
lus were distanced Time, l.5l.
The second heat was repetition OF
the first, and Mr.. Hewitt again carried
81. John first under the wire with the
Others in the same order a. before.
Time, l.52s.
THIRD RACE.
Tho thifd race and the second on the